Zircon

A heavy, brilliant silicate found as small crystals in many rocks. Natural zircon is not the same as synthetic cubic zirconia.

Zircon specimen — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to identify zircon

Square prisms capped with pyramids.
Very bright luster and heavy for its size.
Facet edges look doubled through a cut stone.

Often confused with

Diamond
Diamond is much harder and doesn't show doubled facet edges.
Compare side by side
Topaz
Topaz is lighter and less brilliant.
Compare side by side

Where it's found

Sri Lanka
Ratanakiri, Cambodia
Jack Hills, Australia
Ontario, Canada

Uses

Gemstones, zirconium metal and dating Earth's oldest rocks.

Rock tumbling

Can be tumbled with care.

Did you know?

Zircon grains from Australia's Jack Hills are about 4.4 billion years old — the oldest known pieces of Earth.

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